Scotland. (Photo Source: ICC)
In a major development, Scotland and Australia will be facing off in their first bilateral men’s T20I series in September 2024 in Edinburgh. It is worth noting that the three-match assignment in Scotland will be Australia’s first in 11 years. All the matches will be played at The Grange on September 4, 6, and 7.
The announcement for the same came just before both sides’ clash at the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. Furthermore, Cricket Australia (CA) was supposed to play three ODIs and a T20I against Ireland in August and September, but due to Ireland withdrawing from hosting the matches due to financial issues, the board opted for Scotland.
Trudy Lindblade, the Cricket Scotland CEO came forward to talk about how Cricket Australia approached them for a tour and how willing they were to get on board for such a huge opportunity.
“Cricket Australia came to us and said we would like to partner with you and we said we would absolutely like to partner with you, we just needed to find a way to make it happen. So, for us, it was a no-brainer to have Australia coming to Scotland before they play in England and it was just finding a way to make it happen. And thanks to the support of [CA chief executive] Nick Hockley and his team at Cricket Australia, we’ve been able to find a way,” Cricket Scotland CEO Trudy Lindblade told ESPNcricinfo.
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What a way to end the year: Lindblade
Interestingly, Scotland and Australia have only faced off in five international matches, all of them being ODIs, only twice out of the World Cups. Australia have won both matches played against Scotland at The Grange and they will hope for a similar showing in the upcoming tour as well.
Ahead of the tour, Trudy Lindblade highlighted how the series against Australia will be a celebration of cricket in the country.
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“What a way to end the year to have Australia coming to Scotland, playing in three T20 internationals at the Grange, when we have been through such incredibly difficult times, It will be a celebration of cricket in Scotland and we hope that everybody gets behind us and when tickets go on sale, that we have The Grange filled on three days and we can show everybody that cricket in Scotland is well and truly on its path forward and how much that it is a sport for everybody to enjoy,” the CEO said.